Multi-game cabinet

ABSTRACT

A cabinet comprises a first panel, a frame supporting the first panel, and a second panel adapted to slidingly engage with the frame. At least one game apparatus is mounted to a first surface of the first panel. The cabinet is adapted to function as a wall-mounted board game cabinet in a wall-mounted configuration and as a table-mounted board game cabinet in a table-mounted configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/440,813, “Multi-Game Cabinet”, filed Jan. 17, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to games and, more particularly, to a cabinet which may be used with multiple table and wall-mounted board games.

[0003] Table and wall-mounted board games are well known in the art and are commercially available from a variety of sources. Many familiar table board games exist, for example chess, checkers and backgammon. Similarly familiar wall-mounted board games include darts and miniaturized basketball. Typically, such games are sold separately as individual game sets. Thus, for example, it is generally not possible to reconfigure elements of a dart board game set into elements of a checker board game set or vice versa. A need exists, therefore, for a single game set with elements which interchangeably serve as elements of multiple table and wall-mounted game sets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Briefly, the invention is a cabinet comprising a first panel and a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face. At least two frame members are connected along the at least two frame members' interior faces to the first panel intermediate the first edge and the second edge. One of the frame members has an elongated narrow slot opening proximate the second edge of the one frame member. Each of the remaining frame members has a groove disposed within the interior face and proximate the second edge of each of the remaining frame members and generally aligned with the slot opening. At least one second panel has at least one board game playing surface pattern disposed thereon, the at least one second panel being adapted to fit within the slot and the grooves and to slidingly engage with the frame. At least one game apparatus is mounted to a first surface of the first panel. The cabinet is adapted to function as a wall-mounted board game cabinet in a wall-mounted configuration and as a table-mounted board game cabinet in a table-mounted configuration.

[0005] In another aspect, the invention is a cabinet comprising a first panel and a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face. At least two frame members are connected to the first panel along the at least two frame members' interior faces intermediate the first edge and the second edge. At least one game apparatus is mounted to a first surface of the first panel. At least a second game apparatus is mounted to a second surface of the first panel. The cabinet is adapted to function as a cabinet for first and second wall-mounted board games in first and second wall-mounted configurations.

[0006] In yet a third aspect, the invention is a cabinet comprising a first panel and a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face. At least two frame members support the first panel intermediate the first edge and the second edge of the at least two frame members. One of the frame members has an elongated narrow slot opening proximate the second edge of the one frame member. Each of the remaining frame members has a groove disposed within the interior face, proximate the second edge of each of the remaining frame members and generally aligned with the slot opening. At least one second panel has at least one table game playing surface pattern disposed thereon, the at least one second panel being adapted to fit within the slot and the grooves and to slidingly engage with the frame. At least a first game apparatus is mounted to a first surface of the first panel and at least a second game apparatus is mounted to a second surface of the first panel. The cabinet is adapted to function as a cabinet for first and second wall-mounted board games in first and second wall-mounted configurations and as a cabinet for a table-mounted board game in a table-mounted configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0008] In the drawings:

[0009]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a game cabinet shown in a first wall-mounted configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the game cabinet of FIG. 1, shown in a second wall-mounted configuration wherein a second panel is removed from the game cabinet, exposing a dart board contained within an interior of the game cabinet;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the game cabinet of FIG. 1, shown in a third wall-mounted configuration exposing a basketball goal assembly;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the game cabinet of FIG. 1, showing the cabinet in a table mounted configuration with the second panel installed to form a cabinet for a first table game;

[0013]FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the game cabinet of FIG. 4, showing the cabinet in a second table mounted configuration with the sliding game panel removed from the cabinet to form an open-topped cabinet suitable for playing a dice game;

[0014]FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the game cabinet of FIG. 1, showing the second panel removed from the game cabinet and game apparatuses omitted for clarity;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a first sectional view of the game cabinet along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

[0016]FIG. 8 is a second sectional view of the game cabinet along line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “top”, and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “interior” and “exterior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the multi-game cabinet and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

[0018] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate the same components throughout the several figures, there is shown in FIGS. 1-8 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a game cabinet which in a first wall-mounted configuration provides a dart board; in a second wall-mounted configuration provides an indoor, miniaturized basketball goal; in a first table-mounted configuration provides a cabinet for a table-mounted board game; and in a second table-mounted configuration provides a cabinet for a dice game. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a game cabinet, generally designated 10, is shown to comprise a first major planar side 12 and a second major planar side 14. The cabinet 10 is shown mounted to a wall 16 in a first storage configuration 18 (FIG. 1), a second dart board game configuration 20 (FIG. 2) and a third basketball game configuration 22 (FIG. 3). With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the game cabinet 10 is shown resting on a table 24 in a first table-mounted board game configuration 26 and a second table-mounted open box configuration 28 suitable for playing a game of dice.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 5-8, the game cabinet 10 is formed from a generally square frame 30 formed from first, second, third and fourth interconnected frame members, 32, 34, 36 and 38. Each frame member has a first edge, 32 a-38 a, a second edge 32 b-38 b, an interior face 32 c-38 c, and an exterior face 32 d-38 d. An elongated narrow slot opening 40 extends through the fourth frame member 38, proximate the second edge 38 b. Each of the remaining frame members 32-36 has a groove 32 e-36 e disposed within its interior face 32 c-36 c, proximate the second edges 32 b-36 b and generally aligned with the slot opening 40. The frame 30 further includes a first panel 70. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the first panel 70 is attached to each frame member 32-38 along the interior faces 32 c-38 c intermediate the first and second edges 32 a-38 a, 32 b-38 b. The first panel 70 has a first major planar surface 72 oriented toward the second major planar side 14 and a second major planar surface 74 oriented toward the first major planar side 12. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the first panel 70 is shown to be rigidly attached to each frame member 32-38. From this disclosure, the artisan will recognize that the first panel could be designed to be supported by the frame 30 in a variety of ways, for example, to slidingly engage with and be supported by the frame 30 in a manner similar to a second panel 50 described below or to rigidly connect to at least two of the frame members 32-38.

[0020] The second panel 50 is adapted to slidingly engage with the frame 30, the second panel 50 being sized to fit within the slot opening 40 and the grooves 32 e-36 e. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, at least a first board game playing surface pattern 58 is disposed on a first face 52 of the second panel 50. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 1, decorative graphics 56 may be disposed on the first face 52. A second board game playing surface pattern 58′ may be disposed on a second face 54 of the second panel 50. The board game playing surface pattern 58 may be any of a number of conventional board game playing surface patterns, for example, checkers, chess, Chinese checkers or backgammon. Multiple second panels 50 could be provided. If multiple second panels 50 are provided, widths of the grooves 32 e-36 e and the slot opening 40 could be adapted to accommodate the multiple second panels 50 simultaneously.

[0021] At least one game apparatus is mounted to the first surface 72 and at least a second game apparatus is mounted to the second surface 74. In the preferred embodiment, the first game apparatus is a basketball goal assembly 90 and the second game apparatus is a dart board 80. With particular reference to FIG. 2, the dart board 80 is shown mounted to the second surface 74 of the first panel 70. Thus, with the second panel 50 removed from the cabinet 10, the dart board 80 is exposed when the cabinet 10 is mounted to the wall 16 with the cabinet first side 12 oriented outwardly from the wall 16. Darts 82 may be stored within the cabinet 10.

[0022] With reference now to FIG. 3, an elevational view of the second side 14 of the cabinet 10 is shown. The first surface 72 of the first panel 70 is shown to support a basketball rim assembly 100 and to form the wall-mounted miniaturized basketball goal assembly 90. The rim assembly 100 comprises a mounting plate 106, a folding rim 108 and a net 110. The mounting plate 106 is rigidly attached to the first surface 72 of the first panel 70 using bolts. The rim 108 is rotatably attached to the mounting plate 106, such that the rim 108 may be pivoted upward into a stored position (not illustrated) wherein the rim 108 is essentially parallel and adjacent to the first panel 70 or pivoted downward into a deployed game position 104. The first surface 72 is set back interior to a plane defined by edges 32 a-38 a on the second side 14 of the cabinet 10. The gap between the first surface 72 and the plane defined by edges 32 a-38 a is sufficiently wide to accommodate the rim 108 and net 110 when the rim 108 is in the stored position (not illustrated) such that the second side 14 of the cabinet may fit flush against the supporting wall 16. A basketball 120 is further illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0023] The wall cabinet 10, including the frame members 32-38, the first panel 70 and the second panel 50, is preferably fabricated from wood, using conventional woodworking fabrication techniques. Other materials including metals or polymeric materials could be substituted. The dart board 80 and basketball goal assembly 90 are conventional, fabricated from conventional materials using conventional fabrication techniques.

[0024] In use, the cabinet 10 may be used in a wall-mounted configuration. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the cabinet 10 may mounted to the wall 16 by supporting brackets (not shown) rigidly attached to the wall 16 by screws (not shown) or other conventional fasteners. In one preferred mounting arrangement, the cabinet 10 includes recesses (not shown) on both the first and second sides 12, 14 within the interior face of one of the frame members (other than frame member 34). The recesses (not shown) mate with corresponding protrusions (not shown) on the brackets (not shown) to support the cabinet 10 with either the first or second side 12, 14 facing outwardly from the wall 16. From this disclosure the artisan would recognize that other conventional techniques for mounting structures to walls could be substituted to releaseably attach the cabinet 10 to the wall 16.

[0025] If the user desires to play darts, the cabinet 10 is mounted to the wall 16 in the dart board game configuration 20 such that the first side 12 faces away from the wall 16, and the second panel 50 is removed from the cabinet 10. The user may then proceed to play darts. If the user desires to play miniaturized basketball, the cabinet 10 is mounted to the wall 16 in the basketball game configuration 22 such that the second side 14 faces away from the wall 16. The rim assembly 100 is lowered into the deployed position 104, and the user proceeds to play miniature basketball. The second panel 50 may also be installed in the cabinet 10 and the cabinet 10 mounted to the wall 16 with the first side 12 oriented away from the wall 16 in the storage configuration 18.

[0026] The cabinet 10 may also be used in a table-mounted configuration. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cabinet 10 is placed on a suitable support, such as a table 24. The second panel 50 is installed into the cabinet 10, with the desired board game playing surface pattern 58 facing upward. The users then proceed to play a board game. Game pieces 60 can be stored within the interior of the table cabinet 10.

[0027] Alternatively, the second panel 50 may be removed from the cabinet 10, in an open box configuration 28 suitable for use with a pair of dice 62 to play a game of dice.

[0028] From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention comprises a cabinet which may be either wall-mounted or supported on a table or other support, allowing a user to conveniently and quickly convert the cabinet for use with wall-mounted board games such as darts and miniaturized basketball or table games such as checkers and backgammon. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A cabinet comprising: a first panel; a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face; at least two frame members connected along the at least two frame members' interior faces to the first panel intermediate the first edge and the second edge; one of the frame members having an elongated narrow slot opening proximate the second edge of the one frame member; each of the remaining frame members having a groove disposed within the interior face and proximate the second edge of each of the remaining frame members and generally aligned with the slot opening; at least one second panel having at least one board game playing surface pattern disposed thereon, the at least one second panel being adapted to fit within the slot and the grooves and to slidingly engage with the frame; and at least one game apparatus mounted to a first surface of the first panel, whereby the cabinet is adapted to function as a wall-mounted board game cabinet in a wall-mounted configuration and as a table-mounted board game cabinet in a table-mounted configuration.
 2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the board game playing surface pattern corresponds to one of checkers, Chinese checkers, chess, and backgammon.
 3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is provided with multiple second panels.
 4. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the game apparatus is a basketball goal assembly.
 5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein a rim portion of the basketball goal assembly is pivotable between a position generally parallel with the panel and a position generally perpendicular to the panel.
 6. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the game apparatus is a dart board.
 7. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein game pieces may be stored within the cabinet.
 8. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the second panel may be removed to form an open-topped box suitable for playing a game of dice when the cabinet is used in the table-mounted configuration.
 9. A cabinet comprising: a first panel; a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face; at least two frame members connected to the first panel along the at least two frame members' interior faces intermediate the first edge and the second edge; at least one game apparatus mounted to a first surface of the first panel; and at least a second game apparatus mounted to a second surface of the first panel, whereby the cabinet is adapted to function as a cabinet for first and second wall-mounted board games in first and second wall-mounted configurations.
 10. A cabinet comprising: a first panel; a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members, each frame member having a first edge, a second edge, an interior face and an exterior face; at least two frame members supporting the first panel intermediate the first edge and the second edge of the at least two frame members; one of the frame members having an elongated narrow slot opening proximate the second edge of the one frame member; each of the remaining frame members having a groove disposed within the interior face, proximate the second edge of each of the remaining frame members and generally aligned with the slot opening; at least one second panel having at least one table game playing surface pattern disposed thereon, the at least one second panel being adapted to fit within the slot and the grooves and to slidingly engage with the frame; at least a first game apparatus mounted to a first surface of the first panel; and at least a second game apparatus mounted to a second surface of the first panel, whereby the cabinet is adapted to function as a cabinet for first and second wall-mounted board games in first and second wall-mounted configurations and as a cabinet for a table-mounted board game in a table-mounted configuration. 